M10-P Shutter Release / LV Still Freeze With Latest Firmware

[an_analog_man]

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Hi Folks, 

I recently got a new M10-P and love it a lot! Upgrading from a M8.1, the difference is night-and-day (still love the M8 for the CCD color). However, after two weeks of very careful usage, it started to randomly freeze the shutter release or the LV. After reading all the related posts I can find in this forum, I upgraded to the latest firmware (3.21.3.50), which is supposed to fix the freeze. However, the problem persists and it is getting worse (I am encountering it everyday now, 50 - 100 exposures a day). 

I've already reached out to Leica and got a generic 'send it in and we will take a look' response. However, before I part with my new favorite camera for an extended period of time, I want to check again to see if folks are still experience either the shutter or the LV freeze with the latest firmware? If you have experienced this, how did you (or Leica) fix it? My worst nightmare would be shipping it in and they can not find a problem... 

Thanks for the help and support! 

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1. Problem Description:

Sometimes when I pressed the shutter, it produces no action. And when I look into the viewfinder, it indicates that the shutter is locked at the half-pressed state (a red dot appears in the AE mode and remains there even if the shutter is let go). After the camera enters this state, I either have to press the shutter again, or shut off the camera completely to get it to function again. Additionally, LV freezes at a lower frequency and need a battery-out-restart to fix. 

2. Troubleshooting steps I’ve tried
• I’ve changed the lens and the problem persists.
• I’ve changed the shutter soft release buttons (multiple ones, with and without) and the problem persists.
• Ive changed multiple SD cards (small and slower, large and faster) and the problem persists.
• I’ve tested different battery level, and no difference here.

3. Does M10 have a reliability issue? 

I’ve never had unreliable Leica before, film or digital, especially with shutter! So you can image the frustration, especially for a model that prides on its silent shutter (which I like a lot!). It seems this problem is not an uncommon encounter, which prompted me to think if the M10 tends to has a reliability issue (understanding the self-selection bias in going through forum posts). 
 

[mujk]

Hi,

And welcome to the forum.

The M10 is not inherently unreliable, i.e. it should not freeze in normal use. However, the use of certain SD card brands and fiddling with the Viso 020 have been found to cause freezes. Also shooting many long continuous burst have been suspected to cause a lockup. If you have checked that none of these apply, it is likely that your camera is faulty.

I would suggest sending an SD card with which you have experienced the freeze problem with the camera to Leica to make it more likely that they will be able to replicate the problem.

[John Miranda]

I've had M10, M10-R and M10-M, and probably have had 1 freeze in over two years of usage, so your frequency seems significantly higher than normal.  If you have tried different cards, are they by the same brand, or different brands?  Outside of that, it seems like your camera has an intermittent fault.    

[vwillrocku]

Sorry for the situation. I had a M10 before and LV also freezed about once for around 200 photos. It didn't need to take out the battery but on/off the camera was able to solve the issue. It was not SD card related as I sent the camera to Leica and after a circuit board was replaced the problem was totally gone. I suggest you to take a video to Leica to show them the problem.

However, more issues occurred after the repair and dealing with Leica service center was nightmare to me. My personal experience with the Leica reliability and service was really bad and I am afraid it was the worst when comparing with other Japanese brands. Of course I only had one Leica and the sampling size was too little, but the Leica service center was far from ideal as it was 100% human error. That was my last Leica.  

Hope you could fix the problem soon.

Edited April 23, 2021 by vwillrocku